Non-slip billfold



.a m42/404%.EMMVUVMMWWWMWWW l. .wv/.illnunllln lil A mvENToR f/vJ/rM//v MMA/ae ATTORNEY May 13, 1958 B. M. MAJOR NQN-sLIP BILLFOLD Filed March 12, 1957 United States Patent 0,

The present invention relates to billfolds or Wallets having a bill compartment or pocket and an' important object of 'the invention. isthe provision of an improved constructionof a pocket walletor 4billfold, yto prevent ,its accidental slipping out of a persons pocket, upon bending over or under equivalent conditions, or to avoid easy removal or extraction of the wallet by pickpockets, without arousing the attention or instant awareness of the wearer.

The invention, as to its ancillary objects .and novel aspects, will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred constructional embodiment taken in reference to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective rear view of a wallet or billfold, shown in partly open or unfolded position and constructed .according to the principles of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the wallet in its fully open or unfolded position.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention involves generally the provision of means to increase the friction of the outer surface of the wallet in the closed or folded position, especially with regard to sliding movement in the longitudinal or lengthwise direction of the wallet substantially without impairing the flexibility and other desirable characteristics of the wallet. This aim is achieved, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by the provision of one or more strip-like or rectangular friction areas transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the wallet, said areas being raised or projecting out of the plane of the outer surface of the wallet and having .a friction coefficient greater than the friction coefficient of the adjacent areas of the surface. As a result, the area or areas of increased friction may be restricted to a minimum, such as not to impair the appearance, ilexibility or other desirable characteristics of the wallet, the raised construction of and proper distribution of the areas over the total area of the wallet -surface resulting in a maximum frictional force, whereby to greatly impede slipping of the wallet or removal from a persons pocket, either accidentally or intentionally by persons other than the wearer, without arousing the latters attention or awareness.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, Fig. 1, wherein like reference numerals denote like par-ts in both views thereof, the numerals a and 10b represent the left and right wing portions connected by a central hinge portion 10c of the rear wall 10 of .a conventional wallet or billfold made of any suitable material, such as leather, synthetic plastic or the like, the wallet being shown in partly closed or folded position in the drawing.

According to the improvement of the present invention, fractional portions or areas 13 of the `outer surface of the rear wall 10 are provided with friction areas or surfaces having a greater friction coecient than the adjacent areas, in such a manner as to increase the resistance to slipping or sliding movement of the wallet iu the lengthwise direction, that is, the direction of the dot-dash line 2-2 shown rice 2 in the drawing. For this purpose, the areas 13 of increased friction are preferably of a strip-like or rectangular configuration and arranged transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the rear wall surface 10 orparallel to -the medialv line or hinge portion 10c, two such friction areas being shown for each wing portion 10a and 10b and located adjacent and parallel to the outer short edges and the medial line or hinge portion 10c, respectively.

A satisfactory material for the areas 13 of the increased frictionhas been found to consist of rubber or an equivalent material applied to the wall portion 10a and 10b in any suitable manner, such as by gluing, cementing, stitching, etc.

According to a preferred embodiment of a wallet constructed in accordance with the invention and more clearly `shown by Fig. 2, the portions 10a and 10b of the rear wall 10 are provided with cut-outs conforming to the i shape of the areas 13, said cut-outs adapted to receive rubber or the like friction members mounted therein and being aihxed to the rear wall 10 in any suitable manner. In the example shown, the friction members have a base portion 14 of greater width than the cut-outs and projecting therefrom one or more raised portions 14a covering an area conforming to the cut-outs or areas 13, respectively. The members are mounted with the edges or flanges of the base portions 14 adjoining the inside surface of the rear wall 10 and with the raised portions or projections 14a protruding through the cut-outs and beyond the outer surface of the rear wall 10, in the manner more clearly seen from the drawing. The base portions 14 may be aflixed to the inside of the rear wall 10 by gluing, cementing, stitching or in any other suitable manner.

The wallet shown further comprises a lining wall 15, overlying the rear wall 10 and the base portions 14 of the friction members, and a front wall 17 overlying said lining wall to provide a bill receiving compartment or pocket 18. A pair of further smaller auxiliary walls 20 and 21 may be provided one for each of the wing portions 10a and 10b and overlying the front wall 17, to provide additional compartments or pockets for the reception of visiting cards, postage stamps or the like, in a manner readily understood.

Upon assembly in the manner described, the component parts or walls of the wallet may be joined in any suitable manner, such as by reversely bending the edge portions 10d of the rear wall 10 upon the superposed edge portions of the lining wall 15, the front wall 17 and auxiliary walls 20 and 21, the parts being firmly secured or united by stitching, as shown at 22, welding or in any other manner well known in the art.

The outer surface of the protruding portions 14a, which may be in the form of ribs or serrations at right angle to the longitudinal dimension of the rear wall 10, may in turn, be provided with smaller projections, corrugations or any other kind of asperities, to increase the friction or resistance to slipping of the wallet, in a manner readily understood from the foregoing.

While the areas 13 of increased friction have been shown of rectangular or strip-like shape for illustration, it will be understood that 'the areas or friction members may have a different configuration and may serve additionally for ornamental, identification and other purposes, provided their areas cover a proper fraction of the total rear wall area or surface of the wallet and/or are suitably distributed over said area, such as not to impair the ilexibility and other desirable characteristics of the wallet, while at the same time insuring adequate frictional resistance in the longitudinal direction, to prevent slipping or intentional extraction from a pocket Without arousing the wearers attention or awareness.

In the foregoing the invention has been described with reference to a specific illustrative device. It will be evident, however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those shown herein for illustration, may be made without departing from the broader scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and dravving are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim:

1. A wallet comprising oblong front and connected to form a bill receiving compartment foldable about a medial line with the folded front wall portions adjoining one another, a lining wall secured to and overlying said rear wall, each of the folded rear wall portions having a plurality of spaced strip-like cut-outs parallel to said medial line, a plurality of friction members conforming to said cut-outs and having a friction coecient greater than the friction .coefficient of said rear wall, and means to mount said members Within said cut-outs with the friction surface thereof protruding beyond the surface of said rear wall including lateral flanges secured to the inside yof said rear wall adjacent to said cut-outs.

2. A wallet comprising oblong front and rear walls conrear walls f nected to form a bill receiving compartment foldable about a medial -line with .the folded front wall portions adjoining one another, a lining wall secured to and overlying said rear wall, each of the folded rear wall portions being provided with a plurality of striplike eut-outs parallel to said medial line, and a plurality of friction members conforming to said cut-outs and having a friction coecient greater than the friction coefficient of the rear wall surface, said members having lateral flanges interposed between said rear and lining walls and secured to said rear wall adjacent to said cut-outs with the friction surface of said members protruding through said cut-outs and beyond said rear wall surface.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,206,597 Russell Nov. 28, 1916 l 1,519,142 Lakin Dec. 16, 1924 1,619,644 Wetzel Mar. 1, 1927 2,152,133 Brousseau Mar. 28, 1939 2,785,723 Buonaiuto Mar. 19, 1957 

